Combined bearing and stuffing-box for rudders



u (No Model.)

J. H. KONITZKY. COMBINED BEARING AND STUFFING B0X` POR RUDDERS.

No. 383,646. Patented May 29, 1888.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT nieren.;

J. H. KONITZKY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED BEARING AND STUFFING-BOX FOR RUDDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,646, dated May 29, 1888..

Application filed March 27, 1888.

,To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, J. HENRY KQNITZKY, a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a Combined Bearing and Stuffing-Box for Rudder-Stocks, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of my invention is to so construct the stuffing-box and anti-friction bearing of the rudder as to render the same more compact than usual. This object I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of the stern portion of a vessel wit-h the rudder in position, and illustrating my in vention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line l 2, Fig. l, drawn to an enlarged scale;

' and Fig. Slis a sectional plan on the line 34,

Fig. 2.

It has been customary in constructing large vessels to form the stuflingbox directly on the counter, to prevent the ingress of water, and to provide a superstructure above the stuffingbox, in which are the bushings or anti-friction bearings for the rudder-stock, the rudder being usually suspended from this structure. This construction is objectionable, because it occupies considerable space at the portion of the vessel where it can be least afforded, and, furthermore, because the superstructure has to be very strong to bear the weight of the rudder. This is especially the case in war-ves sels, where every portionof the steeringgear is beneath the protective deck located below the water-line.

Referring lo the drawings, A is the sternpost of the vessel, and A the counter, B being the rudder, and B the stock extending up into the rudder-well of the vessel. The pintles c of the rudder are adapted to eyebolts a, projecting from the stern-post, as clearly shown in Fig. l. The upper portion of the rudder'- stock is reduced at Z1, formingl a head, b', and D is a yoke, made in two sections and clamped tothe head b and reduced portion b of the rudder-stock B by means of bolts d, so that when the yoke is supported, as described hereinafter, it will in turn support the rudder by means o f its engagement with the shoulder formed by the reduced portion b.

Serial No. 2611.685. (No model.)

E E are two rods which connect the yoke D to a yoke on the quadrant of the steering mechanism, which is of the usual form.

F is the shell of the combined stufting'box and bearing,"Fl being the bearing portion, and F2 the stuiiing-box portion. This shell I preferably'cast in one piece, as shown. The portion F has two sections, e and f, the lower section, f, being packed'with any suitable antifriction material-lignum-vitee, for instanceand I also prefer to divide the section f into a series of compartments, f by means ot' short radial partitions f 2, (see Fig. 3,) these compartments containing the anti-friction blocks, as shown. The section f tends to steady the rudder in connection with the anti-friction material packed into the eyebolts a, in which the pntles rest, as shown in Fig. 1.

The section c of the portion F of the shell presents a large annular surface, which supports the entire weight of the rudder and xtures. This I also form, by means oi' radial partitions e2, into a series of compartments, e',

Abearing for a sleeve, g, carried by a collar, G,

which is secured to the rudder-stock by means of a screw-bolt, h. The crosshead D rests directly upon this collar G, and is supported thereby, the weight of the rudder and its attachments being thus supported entirely by the large anti-frictional bearing-surface presented by the section e of the shell F.

H is the follower of the stuffing-box portion F2 of the shell, said follower being screwed down by suitable nuts and bolts, c', around its flange.

It will be noticed that the opening in the counter for the reception of the shell F is very large; hence when the rudder is shipped or unshipped it has plenty of room to move into and out of place, owing to this large opening. When the rudder is shipped, for instance, in the first place, the stock is inserted into the opening and the rudder-pntles dropped into the eyebolts. The shell F is then placed in position, and the collar G, with its sleeve, is placed in position, the follower H being then adjusted and the rudder jacked-up sufficiently and the cross-head or yoke D secured thereto, after which the screw-bolts h are inserted to IOO secure the collar G to the stock, to prevent said collar from turning independently of the stock.

It will be seen that the whole device is very compact and occupies comparatively little room in the stern of the vessel, and yet can be readily examined when necessary.

It will be understood that the anti-friction blocks in the portion F of the shell last for a considerable length of time without renewal, and therefore need not be attended to as frequently as the ypacking material in the stuifing-boX, which is consequently placed on top, where it is readily accessible.

I claim as my invention.-

l. The combination of the rudder stock, the counter, and a shell therein comprising two portions, one forming a bearing for the rudderstock and the other forming the stntfingbox, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the rudder-stock, the counter, a shell havingr two portions', one forming both a steady-bearing and a supportingbearing for the rudder-stock and the other forming the stuffing-box to prevent ingress of water to the hold of the vessel, substantially as set forth.

3. A rudder-bearing for vessels, consisting of a shell having a horizontal bearing for a collar on the rudder-stock and a stufling-box above said horizontal bearing.

4. A rudder-bearing for vessels, consisting of a shell having a horizontal bearing for a collar on the rudder-stock, a vertical bearing for the stock below said horizontal bearing, and a stuffing-box above tbc same, all substantially, as specified.

5. The combination of the counter, the shell having -a lower bearing portion and upper stuflng-looxl portion, the rudder-stock, the cross-head secured thereto, and the bearingcollar interposed between said cross-head and the horizontal portion of the bearing in the shell, all substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. H.' KONrrzKY.

Witnesses:

HARRY SMITH, HENRY HowsoN. 

